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    Copal

    4.2 (449 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Open 4:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Order Copal Takeout or Delivery

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    COPAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Copal

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    Annette M.

    Pro Cute spot Super casual Great for large crowds Kid friendly Parking in the rear Tortillas are freshly made very tasty Drinks were good Nice service Con - Guacamole is pre-made Chips felt store bought/cold

    Entrance
    Kai W.

    Good Oaxacan cuisine with Moles and a fun selection of mezcal and mezcal cocktails. We stopped in with a big party of 16 including toddlers and were able to be sat immediately on a Saturday lunch. Convenient parking in the back with plenty of spots. The service staff were super helpful with getting high chairs and children water cups for our kiddos and were very helpful with explaining the menu items for the people who were not familiar with Oaxacan cuisine in our party. We had the mole negro with costillas and an order of mole negro with tempeh. Loved how unctious and smooth the mole was, I finished my whole plate. Also had the bartender make a mezcal negroni which also hit the spot. Great option for bigger parties if you are in the area.

    Joyce Z.

    Oaxacan cuisine has become my favorite type of Mexican food so whenever I see an Oaxacan restaurant, I want to try it out.  Was looking for a dinner spot after a day in Santa Cruz and decided on Copal.  I tried to make a reservation but for some reason it kept saying nothing is available even though I chose an available time.  It finally worked right when we pulled into the lot and good thing too as the walk in line was quite long.   We ordered an Azucena and horchata Aqua Fresca, I liked the horchata more.  I was excited for the memelitas as I fell in love with it when I had it for the first time in San Diego, but these were too dry and tasted nothing like the ones I had previously.  The Molotes were pretty solid although the stuffed ones at Taqueria El Zocalo in Oakland were better.  We tried the Tlayuda since it was listed as a Oaxacan specialty and it was the size of a pizza so definitely enough for two.  We did overorder since we like trying new things, although I was not adventurous enough to try the Chapulines grasshoppers ordered.

    Oaxacahola cocktail
    Scott F.

    3% fee for using a credit card. - 5/5: The mole negro sauce is fantastic. I have had it with the chicken and ribs. The flavor is complex and multi-layered. You can buy the mole negro sauce for take-home: $6 for 6 oz - 5/5: The Oaxacaloha cocktail is great, and holds up to ice melt. rums, curacao, orgeat, juices, lime.

    Mole negro (chicken)
    Omar A.

    Great authentic Oaxaca food, I for one can vouch because I am Oaxacan myself. I had dinner here and I was blown away by the service Chase gave me, he was taking care of the whole bar section(completely full) and was making rounds to check in on everyone and to see how they were doing, getting refills for everyone topping off they salsa and chips and even labeling the wine bottle he just opened to ensure freshness. Amazing and top notch service from him! Will 100% come back and highly recommend. Only thing good luck getting a table it gets full fast and good luck on parking.

    Ceviche, rice, adobo
    Joy F.

    Came in on a rainy Santa Cruz night and they were still offering HH - got a couple of cocktails, started with guac chips (guac was really good). Taquitos' shell was a little hard, short rib mole was amazing and the quesadilla was pretty good. Flan was the star! Noticed that there's water dripping from the ceiling that dropped on my shoulder and we informed our server and they said they knew. The thing is why would they seat us where there is a leak from the ceiling? There was also already small water puddles forming. Mind you there were plenty of other tables open. Service was friendly so that helped. Also while dining, we saw something crawling on the ground and we informed our server as well. My husband stepped on it (since it was moving fast on the floor and not sure what it was exactly) and showed it to our server. Long story short, they took off 10% of our bill, but not sure if we will pay another stop, after all, it's quite a drive.

    Amanda V.

    Fresh and flavorful food. Very kind, friendly, and quick service. Ambiance was clean and colorful. Would return

    Lechecilla
    Priscila P.

    I can't remember the last time I ate somewhere where everything was really good and the service was great. My fiancé and I came with our dog and were seated in their patio. The patio is covered and there's a pathway leading to it from the parking lot which is helpful if you have a dog with you. The server immediately offered to bring us some water for our dog in a to-go container. The table already had a water carafe and clean glasses. We ordered our coke zeros, the antojito platter, ceviche, two mole negros and lechecilla for dessert. The ceviche was fresh and the tostadas were crispy. We marveled at all that came with the antojito platter. It came with taquitos, memelitas, molote, quesadilla with epazote and mushroom, chapulines, some queso fresco and a small serving of guacamole, salsa and pickled red onions. Everything was delicious. I even worked up the courage to have a chapulin and it actually tasted good! Perfect portions to share and still feel a bit full off of it. I've had mole negro before and each time was forgettable. When we tasted our mole negro, we immediately knew that what we were having was legit. So many complex flavors coming together beautifully. We already stuffed ourselves with the appetizers, so we had to take the rest to go which pained us because it was so good. We wanted to finish it right then and there because it was warm and tasty. It was still great the next day as leftovers. The dish came with big tortillas and some rice which had some slight flavor to it. I told my fiancé that if all this food was this good, we couldn't leave without trying their dessert. We got the lechecilla. It tasted like a Mexican chocolate panna cottage but creamier since panna cotta uses gelatin. It came with strawberries, whipped cream and I think a dusting of chocolate or cinnamon. We devoured it quickly. Servers were attentive and very patient. Like I said, we brought our dog with us. We kept having to readjust her so she wasn't laying out in the servers' way (she's a German Shepherd and Husky) but she still decided to lay down in their path numerous times (we tried!) and even then the servers were very kind. They checked on us frequently too. We know we will definitely be back.

    Mariah S.

    We eat A LOT of Mexican food in the Sacramento area. This place was BOMB. The food is absolutely amazing. It's fresh, clean, flavorful, and has roots in Oaxaca, Mexico. I wish we had one in Sacramento!

    Cute vessel the guac is served in
    Camille W.

    Came here as part of a party of seven. As previous Yelpers have noted, there is a great selection for vegetarians here. They offer both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. My friend had the NA smoke drink and it was delicious. Starts off smelling and tasting smoky, but ends rather smooth and sweet. Great balance. Make sure to check the menu online ahead of time. I wanted to order the Oaxaca salad and when I checked the in-person menu, I couldn't find it in the section I thought it would be in. When I asked the server, he was able to show me where it actually was on the menu. If you see something online that you like but don't see it in person, don't hesitate to ask your server and they'll help you navigate.

    Mole Negro (veg option)
    Calista C.

    A beautiful resturant with indoor and outdoor covered patio! They give you free chips and salsa. Super friendly service. Tried the mole negro and it was a very fair portion with a chicken thigh and leg with rice and 2 corn tortillas. The chicken was cooked very well, falling off the bone and super easy to eat!

    Nopales (gf, vegan)
    Elena M.

    First time coming to Copal, I have to say the food was amazing great flavors and a variety of selections of food, great service and great recommendations since it was my first time friendly and attentive customer service, Family ambiance they have inside and outside seating I love the decor everything was great.

    Empanada de Mole Amarillo
    Angela L.

    This is an Oaxaca restaurant located in Santa Cruz. The vibes feels mid-American however the menu looks Mexicanish. We ordered guac, taco and a dish that looks like nacho. However the guac tastes so salty and spicy that's not kid-friendly at all. The waitress confirms that the taste shouldn't be different than other Mexican restaurants except the citrus flavor. So she offered to make up by adding a plain avocado. We accepted. The other foods are ok, the shrimp taco is fresh and juicy. However this experience turns out surprising as we found the plain makeup avocado do was charged $8... we didn't ask for that and only accepted as a make up. And now we need to pay for the mistake on the taste as well as something we didn't initially want that much.. we feel tricked and also unsatisfied with the food. Probably won't come as there are better Mexican restaurants that don't do such things. Thanks.

    Margarita + Guacamole (gf, vegan)

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    1 month ago

    Lovely Oaxacan food. Great atmosphere and good service. Interesting drinks and appetizers

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    2 months ago

    I had me some really good enchiladas. The mole was dankopotamus. Twas quite a vibe indeed.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Copal Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Copal

    Are there high chairs?

    Yep!

    Does the patio have heaters?

    Yep!

    Are pets allowed in the patio?

    Yes

    Is the outdoor patio covered? And do you think it would be very loud if raining?

    No covering

    Do they have a nearby bike rack?

    Yes, in front of the host stand.

    Is outdoor patio seating pet-friendly?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Stopped by Tacos Periscos after a hike and this burrito hit exactly when I needed it…read more They start you off with complimentary chips that came out hot, plus a salsa bar with a good variety to choose from. I always appreciate places that let you sample different salsas before your meal. I ordered the Super Periscos burrito with chicken, and it was exactly my kind of burrito. It was packed with chicken, perfectly cheesy, and, best of all, no rice. I know that's a preference thing, but I like when the filling is actually meat and cheese instead of being loaded with rice. The pico de gallo tasted fresh and added a nice crunch, and the portion was just right without feeling overstuffed. My only small complaint is the salsa selection. There are plenty of options, but none of them really stood out as one I'd keep going back for. They were decent, just not especially memorable. That said, I'd definitely come back. If you're looking for a satisfying burrito after a hike or just want a solid meal that doesn't disappoint, this place does the job.

    This is the last time I will be coming here. The main cashier had a very bad attitude yesterday. I…read morewas reading him my order of 2 items. Mind you, there was a long line. I was trying to help him out, as I'm in the hospitality business for high level profiles. He responded and told me he's an old guy, but very rude when I told him the two items and he just cut me off while I was talking . It was a chicken burrito with refried beans, no rice & carne asada fries. He also threw my receipt at me. I get it if you under pressure, but never take it out on a paying customer because you can't work well under pressure. He left a bad taste in my mouth with his bad attitude. I will not be coming back. Be kind to your customers especially i was trying to help you. Lol. The meat was overly cooked. The burrito still had rice in it. Fries were very oily. I still tipped him, even though he didn't deserve any of it. Bad service. Bad attitude.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Breakfast #1
    Breakfast #1
    Outdoor seating

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    Outdoor seating
    The Real Taco

    The Real Taco

    4.4
    (164 reviews)
    0.0 mi
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    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Veggie taco is fresh & awesome Quesabirria is wonderful…read more 3 crispy tacos is delicous -- Authentic real Mexican food we are picky eaters & LOVE LOVE LOVE THE REAL TACO!

    Had lunch here today with the family…read more.. Pros- food was tasty. There were plenty of seats, both shaded and in the sun. Very dog friendly...including ours, there were 4 dogs in total. It's also in a cool location, several other eateries and drink spots to check out. We had 2 super burritos that were customized (one no sour cream, one no beans, both with 2 meats. The crispy beef tacos (fam favorite), and a fish taco (too spicy for me!), oh and chips and salsa. Cons- the super burritos were supposed to come with guacamole, but neither did. Didn't think about it until my son asked, but we were pretty much done eating at that point. We also had to pay for chips and salsa. Never a fan of that. The bag of chips and the salsa containers were also small. If you're going to charge, you should make it worth it for the customer(s). With tip, it was just over $70 bucks in total. Overall we all enjoyed our meal. Next time I'll look for the guacamole earlier, to make sure we get it! The location is near my son's place, so we will likely be back!

    Photos
    Real taco:choice of meat,cilantro,onions,rousted Anaheim peppers,mozzarella cheese and salsa
    Real taco:choice of meat,cilantro,onions,rousted Anaheim peppers,mozzarella cheese and salsa
    Súper taco: choice of meat,cilantro,onions,guacamole,pickles onions and salsa...
    Súper taco: choice of meat,cilantro,onions,guacamole,pickles onions and salsa...
    Fish burrito.. rice,beans,pico de gallo,red cabbage and spicy mayo sauce!!

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    Fish burrito.. rice,beans,pico de gallo,red cabbage and spicy mayo sauce!!
    El Palomar

    El Palomar

    3.7
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    A delicious choice for every occasion. I've been coming here for over 20 years and love it. The…read moremain restaurant, with its deep booths and beautiful high painted ceilings, is a lovely destination for fancy dinners. The bar is a great date spot, and the taco bar (?) in the dar back is perfect for a quick bite or drink with a buddy. Their chips and salsa are next level. I love coming here for lunch when I work in downtown Santa Cruz.

    3.5 stars. We were looking for a spot to eat after doing a hike at Henry Cowell and found this…read moreplace tucked away on the main street. After not being able to get in at a few other spots, this place didn't have a wait time. Let me get this out of the way first. Service was *excellent.* The interior of the restaurant almost looked like an old church with its arched ceilings and tiled floors. It lent to a very old Mexican Pueblo Town Vibe inside. The outdoor patio (after seeing it) almost made me wish we sat outside after seeing how bright it was out there. It was very dark inside compared to how it was in the patio area. So why the 3.5 stars? The food. Coming from East Side San Jose where Mexican food is plentiful and done well, I can't say that this place came close. The chicken inside the taquitos were so dry inside that I kept wondering if it was shredded chicken that sat out for a long period of time because the juice was sucked out of it. Now let's move onto the beans. I love me some refried beans and these tasted bland. I was so disappointed. The rice was good however I've had better. As for the Asado Rollos which were described to us as a chimichanga that is sliced up, I was also left wanting for more. Taste wise it was lacking. It had all the fillings in there but after having one slice, I was done. There was one thing that was the star of the show here. It was the complimentary chips and salsa which was refilled several times by the staff. These were addicting and probably could have just had these on their own.

    Photos
    Dining Room
    Dining Room
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